Abstract

Many fisheries across the Caribbean suffer from inadequate data collection and analysis, hampering the development of effective fisheries policies and regulations. Prior to November 2023, only six primary fish landing sites in Barbados were routinely monitored, with raising factors employed to estimate total landings for each fish species group due to the shortfall in coverage. A new data collection program has significantly enhanced this monitoring framework by including 14 additional secondary and tertiary landing sites. Historically, fish landings at markets have been documented through the collection and documentation of market tolls. However, this process is dependent on the landings declared by market users which are under-reported. This discrepancy necessitates a comparison between the data collected by markets and that gathered by Fisheries data collectors. In response, the Fisheries Division of Barbados commissioned a study to evaluate the effectiveness of platforms such as KoboToolbox in streamlining the data collection process and to identify potential under-reporting through a thorough comparison of data sets. Preliminary data from the first quarter of 2024 indicate a 30% increase in recorded landings, attributed to the improved coverage from additional landing sites, even without the adjusted raising factors. Additionally, economic information such as price per pound and supply chain processes are also documented. This study highlights the critical importance of continuous data collection and rigorous analysis to inform sustainable fisheries practices in Barbados. By leveraging improved data collection methods and analytical platforms, fisheries managers can design data driven solutions to inform the implementation of appropriate management strategies, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector